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Tokyo Olympics: Sumit Nagal beats Denis Istomin in three-sets in opening round match

In the men's singles tennis tournament, India's Sumit Nagal entered the second round at the Tokyo Olympics as he outclassed Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 on Saturday.

Tokyo Olympics: Sumit Nagal beats Denis Istomin in three-sets in opening round match

Bengaluru, July 24: In the men's singles tennis tournament, India's Sumit Nagal entered the second round at the Tokyo Olympics as he outclassed Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 on Saturday.

It was a memorable win for the Indian player as Nagal became the first Indian man since Leander Paes won bronze in Atlanta 1996 to reach the second round at the Olympics. Nagal on Saturday became only the third Indian to win a men's singles match at the Olympics Games and the first in 25 years, when he edged past Denis Istomin in a three-setter.

Zeeshan Ali was the first Indian to win a singles match at the 1988 Seoul Games when he beat Victo Caballero from Paraguay. After that, the legendary Leander Paes won the historic men's singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games, beating Brazil's Fernando Meligeni. No Indian could win a singles match after Paes' heroic feat even as Somdev Devvarman and Vishnu Vardhan competed at the 2012 Games in London but did not manage to cross the first round hurdle.

In the first round encounter of the men's single contest, the first set was a tightly contested affair with Nagal making the break at crucial junctures and picking up the opening set 6-4. Having wrapped up the opening set, the 23-year-old carried on with his momentum. But Istomin fought back to take the second 7-6 and take the match into the deciding third set.

The Indian tennis camp was left a happy dugout as Nagal wrapped up the third set 6-4 to march into the next round. Defeating Istomin in a two hours and 34 minute contest, Nagal set up a second round clash with world number two. Daniil Medvedev.

(With input from PTI)

Story first published: Saturday, July 24, 2021, 14:15 [IST]
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